Utrecht or Amsterdam?

[hifi]

any thoughts,for a single female friend.tia.

I much prefer Utrecht - smaller & friendlier; but then again - lots of people prefer Amsterdam

Does she have a work/study place? I'd try and stay as close as possible to that and reduce commuting

I prefer Utrecht too, as friendlier. It is being rather rebuilt at the moment, so is well..a building site! (Just the centre you understand, not the whole city).

Not much experience of Amsterdam...but if I were young free and single I''d probably go for that.

would need to be near some action i think.is amsterdam uber expensive,as in rentals?

Amsterdam is very expensive for rentals, it's very difficult to find anywhere at all in the more desirable areas (eg de Jordaan). TBH unless she's got a big budget she's not likely to be able to rent near any action.

Great place to live though.

I used to live in Amsterdam Centrum. The apartment was expensive but I thought it was cheap comparative to Central London so I justified it to myself. And it was so lovely :)

At one point I lived on the Damrak when I was getting a renovation and that was just ridiculous, like never a minutes peace, so I wouldn't recommend that. I had a canal house apartment for most of the time and that was much better. It was like living in a movie - the central canal district is breathtaking in all seasons.

It was a great experience but if I was moving back I would maybe take Utrecht as I think it would be easier to become more part of the community there. Amsterdam is full of foreigners and the locals can be very cliquey. Although that's probably true of Dutch people period. I was single for a bit in Amsterdam and was glad to already know people there. If you're single and slow to make friends then watching all the gangs of mates enjoying themselves and all the couples having romantic mini-breaks could drive you crazy!

Look up Perfect Housing.nl they are pretty good and speak English. All Maklaars will charge you a months rent for finding you a flat and landlords usually want a bond of 2 months rent or more. Its expensive to set up but once you're in you have more rights as a tenant than in England. For instance - its your 'human right' to keep a dog or a cat or whatever.

My neighbour (Dutch psychiatrist!) told me that you move to Amsterdam when you are at a crossroads in your life!

I live in Utrecht centre and it is lovely (but I am in the old town). Not as sordid/touristy as Amsterdam (am not a big fan of the big A) and rentals are cheaper, and sometimes more spacious. At the mo we are paying 900 euro for a studio, which is the going rate. Still loads of English speakers, but also very Dutch. Is small though, so if she wants a big city not for her.

Amsterdam!!!! Utrecht is lovely for families and for a visit but for a young single person Amsterdam for sure. I love Amsterdam.

As for touristy and sordid? Well yeah sure if you live on the Damrak or the Rembrandtplein. Try Oudwest or OudZuid for lovely areas, but your friend will have to be ready to give up space and spend on a rent. It's a capital city after all. The cliguey/get in with local thing is a different story, I don't think it's easy to really get to know Dutch people in any city, and I say that as someone married to a Dutch man and living here (now in Alkmaar) 11 years. Ooh now I'm dreaming of my single in Amsterdam years....

thanks everyone,will pass on.